A concept analysis of nurses' grief.

BACKGROUND The psychological and personal well-being of nurses can change the way they care for patients. If nurses' grief is not properly managed, the nursing shortage will continue to grow. Consequently, a need exists for the identification of nurses' grief and effective interventions to manage grief to ensure the successful development and growth of the nursing profession. OBJECTIVES This concept analysis sought to properly define nurses' grief and the role it plays in the day-to-day requirements of nurses. METHODS A review of the literature was conducted using CINAHL®, BioMed, EBSCOhost, and MEDLINE® and the following key words. FINDINGS Nurses' grief must be incorporated into the nursing curriculum and addressed by employers. In particular, facility leaders should help promote a healthy work environment and address the need for proper grief management. Educators, managers, and nurses can benefit from acknowledging the current gap in managing nurses' grief.